John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Michele Galietta said the officer was confronted with a split-second choice when a masked man holding 21-year-old Hofstra University student Andrea Rebello in a headlock pointed a loaded handgun at him.

Bail was set at $120,000 for 25-year-old James Ryan. He was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on vehicular manslaughter, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a control substance, driving while intoxicated and other charges.